Police dismisses Inspector, Sergeant over alleged rape of 17-year- old suspect
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has terminated the employment of former Inspector Edith Uduma due to severe misconduct related to the alleged rape of a 17-year-old suspect by Sergeant Abraham Uzuobo in Edo State.
This decision follows a viral video that surfaced, showing Uzuobo inappropriately interacting with the victim while Uduma was on duty as Charge Room Officer on October 7, 2024.
A comprehensive investigation revealed that Uzuobo had taken the victim from her cell to a secluded office, attempting sexual acts.
Instead of reporting this incident, Uduma recorded it and later conspired with her husband to extort Uzuobo, demanding ₦1,000,000 to conceal the misconduct.
The police stated that both Uzuobo and Uduma were dismissed for their roles, with Uzuobo facing prosecution and imprisonment
He stated: “During the act, Uduma had walked in and recorded the act. However, instead of immediately making a documented entry on the matter in the Incident Record of the Station which was under her charge, and thereafter reporting the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for disciplinary actions to be initiated against the erring officer, she took advantage of the situation to enrich herself by calling her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was also a Police Inspector, both of whom conspired to unlawfully demand the sum of N1 million from the Sergeant to assist him in concealing the matter.
“However, the Sergeant offered only N45,000 in cash which they collected at that instance and after a few days, contacted the Sergeant to request the same sum of N1,000,000, but the Sergeant refused to comply. Dissatisfied by his refusal to follow through with the blackmail, they decided to report the erring officer to the DPO and also simultaneously share the video on social media.
“Everyone culpable in this case has been sanctioned appropriately as there is no intention to impede justice. The erring Sergeant has been dismissed and prosecuted and is currently in prison custody as the trial progresses. Inspector Edith Uduma was also dismissed for her role, while her complicit husband has been reduced to the rank of Sergeant.”
Adejobi stated that it has however come to the attention of the Force that Uduma, after her dismissal, made numerous “unfounded claims regarding her innocence and has sought to taint the reputation and integrity of the adjudicating authority, the Inspector-General of Police in person, and the entire Police Force.”
The police spokesperson noted that Uduma’s dismissal was not only justified but necessary, based on the investigations that presented evidence of her failure to follow standard incident report protocol to immediately document the incident, attempt to conceal an offender for benefit, participation in extortion, and manipulating the justice process for personal gain.
